The Mary Utopia Rothrock Lectures

In 1972 the East Tennessee Library Association inaugurated a series of annual lectures in librarianship. Named the Mary Utopia Rothrock Lectures in honor of Miss Rothrock, the purpose of the lectures is to "enable local librarians the benefit from 'new information, direction, and philosophy' within various areas of the profession."

Mary Utopia Rothrock (1890-1976) was an important figure in libraries locally and nationally. She helped organize the first regional library system in the Southeast. Miss Rothrock was a Library Specialist with the Tennessee Valley Authority and the author of two textbooks. She served as Director of the Knoxville Public Library (1916-34) and as President of the American Library Association (1946-47).